There are few things in this world that make one feel as underdressed as going to a drag ball.

Before this past Friday, I, like many others, had never attended a drag event before, let alone a drag ball. Now, after having experienced the first drag ball hosted by Columbia’s Institute for the Study of Sexuality and Gender, I can say that everything about it was awe-inspiring. When first walking into the Teatro of the Italian Academy, I was greeted with a golden and sparkling arena, complete with a red-curtained stage and a grand buffet. It was not long after that I was witness to breathtaking looks. An ethereal, shining fairy, a green haired mad scientist, a TBBD (trash bag black dress) with a purple top bun and Buldak ramen extensions, and finally, of course, Chappell Roan.

These fashion icons were just the beginning. The first performance of the night was performed by the night’s MC and host, Junior Mintt, and involved reveal after dramatically fabulous reveal. The second performance was the competition for Campus Crush, followed by Dorm Room Couture, then a performance by Theydy Bedbug, and a brief education on the periodic table, followed by more and more amazing performances. 

Along with such star studded performances, the night was also about the history of those who came before us. Drag racing is and has been embedded deeply in American history, especially in the history of Black and Brown communities. Modern drag balls as we know them today originated with William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved black man and the founder of the House of Swann. Since Swann’s trailblazing path through drag, drag venues have been places of refuge for anyone who has been the victim of racism or gendered policing. ISSG’s drag ball was in honor of that history, and place for anyone queer or not, to come be themselves. 

However, what was most important about all of this was the feeling of sheer joy that one feels when experiencing something like a drag ball. During the entire event, I couldn’t stop smiling. You better believe that when everyone else was whooping and hollering for each contestant, I was right there with them. With every performance, every strut, every jive, there came an irrepressible sense of pride in seeing each contestant be unapologetically themselves. Politicians will say what they will and argue that drag balls are harmful, that they are dangerous. I humbly disagree. There is a happiness and a joy that can only be found in drag, and I’ve never seen or felt anything quite like it before. 

Drag ball via Bwogger